Controlling device for gas torches



Oct. 3, 1950 c, D, LAWHQN 2,524,730

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR GAS TORCHES Filed Deg. 2, 1947 i 1.7 T 15 IN V EN TOR.

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" /MWM Attonzeys Patented Oct. 3, 1950 v 7 2,524,730 CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR GAS TORCHES Charles D. Lawhon, Stratf-ord, Conn., assignor to Robertshaw-Fulton Controls Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application December 2, 1947, Serial No. 789,303

improved control device for gas torches whereby the gas flame'of the torch is reduced to a small flame comparable to a pilot flame, but not extin guished, when the torch is not in use, thereby to save gas consumption when the torch is not in service.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved control device for gas torches whereby a safety factor is introduced so as to minimize accidents when the torch is not being used.

. Another object of thisinvention is to provide an improved control device for gas torches which is so constructed as to facilitate adjustment of the flame of the torch, both as tothe high flame when the torch is in use and the low flame when the torch is out of use.

Anotherobject of thisinventionis-to provide an improved control device for gas torches which provides a-convenient rest for the torch when not in service.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved control device for gas torches which minimizes the leakage of gas therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved control device for gas torches which is composed of relatively Simple parts that are easy to fabricate and assemble, and that which is certain and efl'lcient'in operation.

Otherobjects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a, variety of mechanical expressions only one of which is illustratedvon the accompanying drawing, and it is therefore to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detailto the accompanying drawing wherein the same reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts in both figures, V

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of the present invention; and 'Figsz is a section, reduced in length by breaking away, along the axis of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Referring in: detail to the accompanying drawing, the embodiment shown comprises a body member I0 which may be of any suitable size,

shape and construction. Attached to body member ID, as by a suitable number of screws II, is a bracket I2 provided with a portion l3 extending in any suitable direction and shown as apertured at M to receive attaching screws, so that the same may be secured in position on any suitable support, such for example as a work bench.

At one end, said body portion has any suitable provision for securing a. source of mixed gas for use in the torch, the construction illustrated ineluding a pipe. IE to which may be attached the mixed-gas supply hose, said pipe l5 being tapped at I6 for reception in a threaded recess ll in the body member. Leading from the recess ll is'a passage l8 that communicates with a chamber 19 through a valve port 20. In lateral communication with passage I8 is a passage 2! which is in communication through a valve port 22 with passage 23, passages 2| and 23 constituting a by-pass around port 20.

Extending into the body member ID in alignment with the valve port 22 is a threaded aperture 24 in which is mounted a by-pass valve member 25 which terminates in a member 26 for cooperation with port 22. .Exteriorly said by-pass valve member 25 is provided with-a suitable head 27. which may be knurled to facilitate operation thereof in adjusting the member 26 toward and away from its port 22, and in order to secure the by-pass valve member against accidental displacement a lock nut 28 may be mounted on the threaded shank of said valve member for engagement with the body member l0.

At the opposite end of said body member I 0 from the supply pipe [5 said body member is provided with an internally threaded recess 33 which terminates in a right angularly extending shoulder 3i. Mounted on said shoulder 3!, preferably with the interposition of a suitable gasket 32, is an annular flange-like member 33 to which is herf metically sealed in any suitable way a flexible wall in the form of an expansible and collapsible corrugated tubular wall or bellows 34 which subdivides chamber l9 into a, gas chamber with which port 20 and passage 23 communicate and a second chamber at the opposite side thereof. The opposite end of said bellows 34 is hermetically sealed to a poppet valve member 35 adapted. to cooperate with port 20. Annular member 33 is locked in position on the shoulder 3| by a base nut 36 provided with an internally threaded recess 3'! and a passage 38 leading from said recess tothe aforesaid second chamber between the inner face of the base nut and the bellows 34.

Threadedly received in said recess 3'! is a tuhead member 4!! as shown at 46 where it may be 2 given any desired shape, as the hooked configuration shown at 41, which may be of bifurcated construction if desired, to constitute a support from which the torch may be suspended when not in use. Extending between the lever 45 and the poppet valve member 35 is a thrust rod 48 which is guided in said stanchion and engages the under face of the lever 45 at one extremity and has a suitably shaped end 45, here shown as pointed, for engagement with or in a recess in the rear face of the poppet valve member 35, said rod 39 extending loosely but. slidably through the aperture 42 in the head member 40, the internal bore 59 of the stanchion 35 and the aperture 31 in the base nut 36.

Head member 45 is also provided with a threaded opening leading into the chamber 45 at right angles to the length of lever 55, and threadedly mounted in said opening is a screw stud whose outer end is provided with a head 52, that may be. knurled to facilitate manipulation thereof. To look the threaded stud 5! against accidental displacement a lock nut 53 may be mounted on the exteriorly threaded shank of said stud 5! for cooperation with the outer face of the head member 40.

Communicating with the chamber IS in the body member id is any suitable pipe 55 to which may be attached the hose leading to the gas torch.

metal so that when it has been extended by rod 48 moving poppet valve member 35 to close its port the tension thereby imposed on said bellows will be suhicient to withdraw the poppet member from its port 20 when rod 43 releases its pressur on the poppet valve member 35.

However, if preferred, the action of the bellows may be supplemented by a spring to effect the I operation now to be described.

In operation the body member Hi is installed on any suitable support by means of its bracket l2, l3, the source of mixed gas for use in the soldering, welding or comparable work is connected through any appropriate piping, hose orthe like with the pipe l5, and the, torch is connectedto the pipe 55. When the torch is not in service it is hung on the hooked extremity ll of the lever 45, 46, in which position its weight applied to lever 45 moves the latter downwardly around its pivotal axis 44, forcing the rod 48 downwardly to extend the bellows 34 and engage poppet valve member 35 with its port 20. In this position the main flow of gas through the port 20 is discontinned, but gas can still flow to the torch through the by-pass 2|, 23 to the gas chamber which is in communication through pipe with the. torch. The size of the flame at the torch when the torch is not in service can be exactly predetermined by adjusting the by-pass valve member 25 so as to advance or withdraw its seating portion 2i? with respect to its port 22, after which the lock access.

nut 28 may be positioned to secure the valve mem-' ber 25 against accidental displacement.

When the torch is to be put into service it is withdrawn from the hooked extremity 4'! of the lever 45, 4G, whereupon the inherent resiliency in the bellows 34, supplemented by a spring as before referred to if desired, is sufiicient to move upwardly the valve member 35, the rod 48 and the lever 45, 46 which is in engagement therewith, whereby poppet valve member 35 is withdrawn from its port 2|] so as to provide the desired flow of gas through the gas chamber and pipe 55 to the torch. The size of this flame can be nicely predetermined by adjusting the threaded stud 5i which provides a positive stop for the lever 45, 46 in its upward movement, after which the threaded stud may be locked in position by the lock nut 53.

It will therefore be perceived that by the present invention a control device for a gas torch has been provided whereby a continuous flame is maintained at the torch, thereby overcoming certain disadvantages and inconveniences inherent in the use of a pilot flame interiorly of the control device where the pilot burner is difficult of Thus the gas consumption during the periods when the torch is not in service may be cut down to a minimum, appropriate for maintaining the small flame at the torch, by adjusting the by-pass valve member 25 so as to predetermine the quantity of gas flow through the by-pass 2|, 23. At the same time the magnitude of the high flame at the torch can be readily predetermined at any time by adjusting the threaded stud 5| to limit the extent to which the port 20 is opened by the poppet valve member 35 through cooperation of said threaded stud 5| with the lever .5, 45. The bellows 34- provides a flexible seal between the chamber l9 and the passages through which lever 45, Mi-and rod 48 control the poppet valve'member 35,-thereby minimizing gas leakage. Said lever also constitutes a convenient support for the torch when not in use so as to minimize accidents that may arise from laying the torch down on a bench or other support, while at the same time the act of hanging the torch on the lever assures reduction of the gas flame at the end of the torch to a minimum so-as to reduce the likelihood of accidents as well as conserve gas. Additionally, the construction facilitates adjustment of the high gas flame because, by lifting the torch from the lever 45, 46, the magnitude of the high flame can. be observed and then, by replacing the torch on said lever, the flame may be increased or decreased as desired by manipulation of the threaded stud 5|. The control device, as will be observed, is composed of a relatively few number of simple parts that are easy to fabricate and assemble, while the resulting combination assures the desired control of the flame when the torch is in and out of service without discontinuing the flame when the torch is out of service.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawing has been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as the same vmay receive. a variety of mechanical expressions, as will now-be apparent to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the details-of construction,proportion, arrangement, etc., of parts, parts may be replaced byequivalent parts. etc., without departing from the spirit of this invention. Reference seam is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of said invention. a r

What is claimed is: I

1. A control device for gas torches comprising a body member containing a chamber, a flexible wall hermetically sealed in said chamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a second chamber, means providing an inlet pas sage in communication with said gas chamber through a port, a valve member carried by said flexible wall and disposed in said gas chamber for cooperation with said port, a by-pass around said port communicating at its opposite ends with said inlet passage and said gas chamber, means providing an outlet passage in communication with said gas chamber, a thrust rod cooperating with said valve member in said second chamber, means carried by said body member for guiding said-thrust rod, and a lever pivotally mounted on said last named means and cooperating with the end of said thrust rod, said lever providing a support on which the torch may be suspended and being movable under the weight of the torch to actuate said thrust rod and close said valve member.

bellows hermetically sealed in said chamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a second chamber, means providing an inlet passage in communication with said gas chamber through a port, avalve member carried by one end of said bellows and disposed in said gas chamber for "cooperation with said port, a by-pass around said port communicating at its opposite ends with s-aidi'nlet passage and said gas chamber, means providing an outlet passage in communication with said gas chamber, a thrust rod cooperating a body member containing a chamber, a resilient 2. A control device for gas torches comprising a body member containing a chamber, a flexible wall hermetically sealed in saidchamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a second chamber, means providing an inlet passage in communication with said gas chamber through a port, a valve member carried by said flexible wall and disposed in said gas chamber for cooperation with said port, a by-pass around said port communicating at its oposite ends with said inlet assage and said gas chamber, valve means for controlling said by-pass, means providing an outlet passage in communication with said gas chamber, a thrust rod cooperating with said valve member in said second chamber, means carried by said body member for guiding said thrust rod, and a lever pivotally mounted on said last named means and cooperating with the end of said thrust rod, said leverproviding a support on which the torch may be suspended and being movable under the weight of the torch to actuate said thrust rod and close said valve member.

3. A control device for gas torches comprising a body member containing a chamber, a flexible wall hermetically sealed in said chamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a second chamber, means providing an inlet passage in communication with said gas chamber through a port, a valve member carried by said flexible wall and disposed in said gas chamber for cooperation with said port, a by-pass around said port communicating at its opposite ends with said inlet passage and saidgas chamber, means providing an outlet passage in communication with said gas chamber, a thrust rod cooperating with said valve member in said second chamber, means carried by said body member for guiding said thrust rod, a lever pivotally mounted on said last named means and cooperating with the end of said thrust rod, said lever providing a support on which the torch may be suspended and being movable under the weightof the torch to actuate said thrust rod and close said valve member, and means for adjusting the flame at the torch comprising an adjustable member cooperating with said lever 'to predetermine the extent to which said lever, and therefore said thrust rod and valve member, may move in an opening direction.

4. A control device for gas torches comprising a body member containing a chamber, a resilient bellows hermetically sealed in said chamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a second chamber, means providing an inlet pas sage in communication with said gas chamber through a port, a valve member carried by one end of said bellows and disposed in said gas chamber for cooperation with said port, a by-pass around said port communicating at its opposite ends with said inlet passage and said gas chamber, means providing an outlet passage in communication with said gas chamber, a thrust rod cooperating with said valve member in said second chamber, means carried by said body member for guiding said thrust rod, a lever pivotally mounted on said last named means and cooperating with the end of said thrust rod, said lever providing a support on which the torch may be suspended and being movable under the weight of the torch against the resiliency of said bellows to actuate said thrust rod and close said valve member, and means cooperating with said lever to predetermine the extent to which said valve member may be opened by said resilient bellows upon removal of the weight of the torch from said lever.

6. A control device for gas torches comprising a body member containin a chamber, a flexible wall hermetically sealed in said chamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a with said gas chamber, a thrust rod cooperating with said valve member in said second chamber, means carried by said body member for guiding said thrust rod, a head member carried by said last named means and provided with a chamber,

' and a lever on which the torch may be suspended pivoted on said head member and extending through said last named chamber, said lever cooperating with the end of said thrust rod in said last named chamber to move said thrust rod under the weight of the torch when suspended on said lever to close said Valve member.

7. A control device for gas torches comprising a body member containing a chamber, a flexible wall hermetically sealed in said chamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a second chamber, means providing an inlet passage in communication with said gas chamber through a port, a valve member carried by said flexible wall and disposed in said gas chamber for cooperation with said port, a by-pass around said port communicating at its opposite ends with said inlet passage and said gas chamber, means providing an outlet passage in communication with said gas chamber, a thrust rod cooperating with said valve membe in said second chamber, means carried by said body member for guiding said thrust rod, a head member carried by said last named means and provided with a chamber, and a lever on which the torch may be suspended pivoted on said head member and extending through said last named chamber, said lever cooperating with the end of said thrust rod in said last named chamber to move said thrust rod under the weight of the torch when suspended on said lever to close said valve member, and said flexible wall having resiliency to open said valve member and move said thrust rod upwardly when the weight of the torch is removed from said lever.

8. A control device for gas torches comprising a body member containing a chamber, a flexible wall hermetically sealed in said chamber and subdividing the same into a gas chamber and a second chamber, means providing an inlet passage in communication with said gas chamber through a port, a valve member carried by said flexible wall and disposed in said gas chamber for cooperation with said port, a by-pass around said port communicating at its opposite ends with said inlet passage and said gas chamber, means providing an outlet passage in communication with said gas chamber, a thrust rOd cooperating with said valve member in said second chamber, means carried by said body member for guiding said thrust rod, a head member carried by said last named means and provided with a chamber, a lever on which the torch may be suspended pivoted on said head member and extending through said last named chamber, said lever cooperating with the end of said thrust rod in said last named chamber to move said thrust rod under the weight of the torch when suspended on said lever to close said valve member, and said flexible wall having resiliency to open said valve member and move said thrust rod upwardly when the weight of the torch is removed from said lever, and means carried by said head and cooperating with said lever for predetermining the extent to which said valve member may be opened by the resiliency of said flexible wall.

CHARLES D. LAWI-ION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,600,993 Painter Sept. 28, 1926 1,851,415 Bastian Mar. 29, 1932 2,191,078 Kehl Feb. 20, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,107 France Feb. 16, 1920 (addition to No. 488,176) 81,977 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1919 218,209 Great Britain July 3, 1924 674,192 France Oct. 15, 1929 

